Coca Cola plant in Hapur has come under the radar of The National Green Tribunal or NGT (a panel that inspects expeditious disposal resulting in environmental issues). The panel has appointed a local commissioner to supervise the Hapur plant of Coca Cola in Uttar Pradesh. The commissioner will check if the plant was discharging effluents into the nearby pond.
“Considering the gravity of the allegations made against each other and its impact on the merits of the matter before us, we appoint advocate Palash Agarwal as a Court Commissioner to visit the premises of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverage Pvt Ltd. He will carry out the local investigation as regards the boundary wall of the said company in the presence of the applicant and a representative of Respondent No 4 (Coca-Cola) and place before us the fact concerning the photographs,”Justice U D Salvi (heading the bench) released a statement, quoted by PTI as saying.
National Green Tribunal has asked Coca Cola to pay Rs 20,000 to the Court Commissioner, as his fee. He will be working on this issue and take video shots and photographs to file his report.
This step was taken after a petitioner Sanjay Kumar had submitted some photographs to the tribunal related to illegal discharge of untreated waste water. The photos clearly showed that effluents are being released into the pond from the north side boundary wall of the campus.
When asked about it, Coca Cola refuted the claims, hence the tribunal had to appoint a local commissioner to do a proper investigation of the situation and submit a report. The issue is listed for a hearing on April 21.
Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd (HCCBPL), in Hapur district has been directed to also submit a drainage map of its plant.
